Horse of course

Horse drawn carriage ride to a working Mennonite farm leaving from the market. Our guide talked about the Mennonite life, religion and history.  The farm produced maple syrup and we had a look at how they did that.  The maple trees are different than the ones we have in BC, much smaller leaf and tall. We had the opportunity to see a bit of their home where they had a little shop set up to purchase syrup, quilts etc.  Sorry about the lack of captions, proving to be a challenge and this seems to be lesson on not being so picky.  Taking me a long time to learn that...grrr

Farm we visited

Our guide

Our horses

Maple syrup talk

More market pictures

Mennonite baking

yum, lasted us a few days...Not sure what it was, but about the size of a pie.  Kind of like a baked cobbler?  Lots of cherries.

St Jacob's Market

whoa boy, that is what you call a market, massive and busy! Definitely the place to be Saturday morning. Over 400 venders of flea market, made in China stuff. Six or more outside rows, packed with people, two double story buildings with food and wares of all sorts, packed with people.  All jammed and nowhere to move. Some local Mennonite farmer selling veggies, baking and canning but  no local handmade crafts.  Plenty of food venders to choose from if willing to wait.  I expect the Tuesday and Thursday market days would be different, but the Saturday summer market was a zoo and both of us wanted out.  Definitely worth a see, however. 

Indonesia in Waterloo

For those in the know, imagine my surprise.

Home Hardware

Did you now that  Home Hardware began in  St Jacobs  and their headquarters are still based here along with the Home Hardware museum? 

a few pics around St Jacobs

There is a large Mennonite population in this area of Ontario.  Have seen these signs but couldn't get a picture fast enough of the real thing. Perhaps on the way back. In St Jacobs there is an info centre about the Mennonite and Amish settlements and their history and beliefs. Some arts and crafts, mainly quilting, furniture making and such.

Downtown St Jacobs

P ANUTS

I did not know we grew peanuts in Canada.

Did you know?

That Canada has an official tartan? Known as the maple leaf tartan and became an official national symbol in 2011.  Go figure. The four colours reflect the colours of the maple leaf as it changes through the season. Green, gold, red and brown. Looking on wikipedia I discovered that all of the provinces and territories, except for Nunavut have a regional tartan. Learn something new everyday.

Conestoga or Conestogo

St Jacobs is in the Kitchener/Waterloo area, somewhere close to Conestoga. My sis suggested checking out the farmers market and the arts and crafts in the area. The market is not open on Fridays so we checked out the little town, had a snack and then looked for a bed and breakfast. We found the 1842 B&B, a restored blacksmith and wagon factory adjoined with an art studio with works by the owner. We had a nice breakfast the next morning with a couple from Ontario and another couple from Switzerland who were just starting on a month long visit to Canada.  

For Suepie

St Jacobs, Ontario

Not on our map but just outside of Kitchener. Why St Jacobs? You'll just have to wait and see.  

last day in Niagara Falls

We have spent 3 nights here and it is time to get out of Dodge.  We had a good look, we did Niagara proud and have had enough of the crowds. Where will we go next?

Hear no evil

Ask no questions, and tell no lies. Met up with our friend Cindie, a real live Ontarionian.  Nice dinner, nice drinks, nice weather, good times.

Scenic shots

While in the blog you can click on any picture to expand.

Shuffling off to Buffalo

Can you imagine that, 50 cents to cross the border by foot?  Free to come back. A nice 45 minute walk over to Niagara, New York to use our free $45 each free gambling money that came with the hotel room. Sorry about the no captions, seems to defeat the ipad.  My kingdom for an operation system. All because I want total control, refuse to use the social media options.

Crazy town

I have vague memories of Niagara Falls but this I remember.  Clifton Hill is where the action is.  A little more low key then, now...what?  Vegas style. Everything just that much bigger. There are hundreds of things for families in Niagara Falls,  one big playground.  Kids would love it. There are a variety of wax museums, haunted houses, arcades, dinosaur mini-golf with sound effects, Believe or Not stuff, can't help wanting to be kid.